An Albuquerque firefighter arrested and accused of receiving stolen property is now getting paid to sit at home and not work.It's because of a new rule affecting every city firefighter who gets in trouble.Anthony Pacheco was accused of receiving stolen merchandise at this home and even at the fire hall, police said. He's on paid leave."He's not allowed to report to any AFD facilities unless he's directed to do so, and he can't represent himself as an AFD firefighter," Albuquerque Fire Department Chief James Breen said.After a Target 7 investigation two years ago, the city allowed firefighters on administrative leave to work in another department where he or she wasn't a risk. Under a new policy implemented by the labor board, firefighters on paid administrative leave aren't allowed to be placed in a different job outside the department.Pacheco has been linked to a burglary ring. Breen said he can't take the chance of letting Pacheco into people's homes or leaving him alone with expensive equipment."Because of the charges, we can't have him out delivering emergency services, and we have no productive work for him to do within the city at this time," Pacheco said. "If I were to place him in service, I would have to have someone supervise him directly and continuously."The same will go for any other future cases. If they cannot find safe place within the department, the chief said, the best place for the accused is on the couch at home."We're mostly concerned about protecting the image of the AFD and that public trust," Breen said.The chief expects the paid leave to continue for another week or two. While he's at home, Pacheco is required to be on-call eight hours a day for five days a week.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

An Albuquerque firefighter arrested and accused of receiving stolen property is now getting paid to sit at home and not work.

It's because of a new rule affecting every city firefighter who gets in trouble.

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Anthony Pacheco was accused of receiving stolen merchandise at this home and even at the fire hall, police said. He's on paid leave.

"He's not allowed to report to any AFD facilities unless he's directed to do so, and he can't represent himself as an AFD firefighter," Albuquerque Fire Department Chief James Breen said.

After a Target 7 investigation two years ago, the city allowed firefighters on administrative leave to work in another department where he or she wasn't a risk. Under a new policy implemented by the labor board, firefighters on paid administrative leave aren't allowed to be placed in a different job outside the department.

Pacheco has been linked to a burglary ring. Breen said he can't take the chance of letting Pacheco into people's homes or leaving him alone with expensive equipment.

"Because of the charges, we can't have him out delivering emergency services, and we have no productive work for him to do within the city at this time," Pacheco said. "If I were to place him in service, I would have to have someone supervise him directly and continuously."

The same will go for any other future cases. If they cannot find safe place within the department, the chief said, the best place for the accused is on the couch at home.

"We're mostly concerned about protecting the image of the AFD and that public trust," Breen said.

The chief expects the paid leave to continue for another week or two. While he's at home, Pacheco is required to be on-call eight hours a day for five days a week.